The Chilean government has suspended school activities and issued alerts for extreme rainfall and mudslide risks across the central-north zone of the country [1].
These measures come as the nation faces a series of intense weather events driven by a strong El Niño episode. The risk of aluviones, or mudslides, poses a significant threat to infrastructure and public safety in regions already saturated by persistent rain.
President Gabriel Kast said that school activities will be suspended on Friday, July 17, 2026 [1], as a preventive measure for areas between Coquimbo and Maule. The Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (DMC) said that the region is facing three separate frontal systems this week [2].
Forecasters expect the most significant front to arrive on Thursday, July 18, 2026 [3]. This specific system is projected to bring rainfall to eight different regions [3]. Meteorologists said that some sectors could see accumulations of up to 100 mm [2].
While the primary focus remains on the corridor from Coquimbo to Maule, the DMC said that heavy rain is also expected in southern Chile and Patagonia [2]. The combination of strong winds and persistent precipitation is expected to continue through the week of July 14-20, 2026 [2].
Government officials said the school closures are intended to reduce traffic and ensure students remain safe during the peak of the storm. The DMC continues to monitor the movement of the frontal systems to determine if further evacuations or alerts are necessary for high-risk zones [1].
“School activities will be suspended on Friday, July 17, 2026”
The synchronization of three frontal systems fueled by El Niño indicates a period of extreme climatic instability for Chile. By preemptively closing schools in the Coquimbo-Maule corridor, the government is attempting to mitigate the potential for mass casualties and logistical gridlock during mudslides, which are common in Chile's steep topography during high-precipitation events.
